Marshall pitcher Aaron Blair was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday with the 36th overall pick in the 2013 Major League Baseball draft. He is the first Marshall player selected in the first 10 rounds of the draft in 30 years.

Ten Herd players in minors

MU baseball

Jun. 26, 2013 @ 12:00 AM

HUNTINGTON -- Aaron Blair, a former Marshall Thundering Herd pitcher taken No. 36 by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2013 First-Year Player Draft, joined the Hillsboro (Ore.) Hops of the Class A short-season Northwest League, and is awaiting activation.

Blair, a 21-year-old right-hander, signed with the Diamondbacks for a $1.435 million signing bonus according to Baseball America.

The 6-foot-5, 225-pound starter has a 94 mph fastball, a curveball and a changeup.

He was with the Herd from 2011-13 and was an All-Conference USA first team selection this year.

Marshall has nine other former players in the minor leagues. They are:

Dan Straily (2008-09), P, Sacramento River Cats (Triple-A, Pacific Coast League). Spent more than two months this season in the major leagues with the Oakland A's where he was 4-2 with a 5.00 ERA in 12 starts. Sent to Sacramento on June 24. Is 3-0 with an 0.96 ERA with the River Cats.

Isaac Ballou (2010-13), OF, Auburn Doubledays (Class A, New York-Penn League). A 2013 15th round draft pick by the Washington Nationals. Walked and scored June 17 in his first professional plate appearance, a pinch-hit at-bat in a road win over the Batavia Muckdogs. In five games since, Ballou has five singles and five more walks. He's batting .278 while playing mostly left field.

Joe Church (2009-12), P, Fort Wayne TinCaps (Class A, Midwest League). San Diego Padres farmhand made two appearances with the Lake Elsinore Storm (Advanced California League) before his assignment in Fort Wayne, Ind. With the Tincaps he is 1-1 with 11 strikeouts in 12.2 innings.

Mike Mason (2009-12), P, Asheville Tourists (Class A, South Atlantic League). Has a 2-0 record for 18.1 innings and a 2.45 ERA for the Colorado Rockies affiliate.

Kevin Shackleford (2008-10), P, Brevard County Manatees (Class A, Florida State League). Milwaukee Brewers prospect is 1-3 with one save and a 5.40 ERA. Has 20 strikeouts in 30.0 innings.

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